One Coffin Too Many

by Brendan O'Grady

  “ But somebody was tipping her off? “ continued the voice.

  “ I can’t comment on that as I don’t honestly know. We have to deal in facts not speculation. “

  “ Is the late Mr. Horgan related in any way to Mr. Raymond Horgan who’s on the run from the police? “ a TV reporter asked.

  “ He is. Raymond Horgan is his brother. And he’s wanted for fraud amongst other things. “

  With this opening there was a flurry of questions as the reporters seized on what they thought might be a bigger story.

  “ Do you think Caroline Gleeson was pursuing Horgan because of his link with his brother? “

  “ That’s a possibility. “

  “ Do you think the criminal activites of his brother Raymond provided seed money for the business enterprises of Mr. Horgan in this area? “

  “ That we don’t know. Again it could be a possibility. “

  Devoy rattled off the answers with ease because he knew the answers. Then the strange voice from the back piped up again this time with questions that stung Devoy.

  “ Rumour has it that you, Detective Inspector Devoy was her creature – that you were too friendly with her and were possibly romantically linked with her? What do you say to that? “

  Devoy stood up to see who the questioner was.

  “ I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you identify your newspaper. “

  “ The Courier. I’m a trainee reporter. “

  It was the student whom Devoy had tangled with over his use of words regarding Caroline. Devoy answered.

  “ It’s an outrageous suggestion. It was not that kind of friendship….I…”

  Angela suddenly put up her right hand while her left hand touched Devoy to reassure him. Devoy sat down.

  “ I can answer that, “ Angela said in a firm voice. “ Being the only female member of the team investigating these events I took it upon myself to search Caroline’s personal effects. I can tell you whoever you are you are way off beam. Neither Detective Inspector Devoy nor any member of the force were engaged romantically with the late Caroline Gleeson. The simple reason being that she had no romantic interest whatsoever in men. I know. I examined her personal effects. Caroline Gleeson was a lesbian. End of story. “

  Devoy noticed that Cronin shook his head as if in disgust and stared at somebody at the back who was not visible behind all the TV lights. Suddenly he got up and went to the back. Voices were raised and then the young man who had made little of Caroline’s departure in Devoy’s view hurried out of the room quickly followed by Cronin. Devoy thought he heard Cronin say ‘ you little fuck, you’re finished, you’ll never work here again. “

  Devoy stood up and held out his arms.

  “ If there is nothing else, ladies and gentlemen, the conference is over. “

  Sullivan leaned over to him. There was a questioning look on his face.

  “ Who was that little prick? “

  “ A student journalist from the university. He’s doing some practical work with the Courier. “

  “ He’s a lot to learn. “ said Sullivan, shaking his head. “ A lot to learn. “

  “ He won’t be learning it here, Harry. I just heard Cronin calling him a prick. “

  Twenty minutes later the canteen was clear. Angela was still sitting at the table. Devoy went up to her.

  “ Thanks for standing up for me, Angela. I appreciate it. “

  “ All in a morning’s work, Inspector. “

  “ Listen, I’m going to need you this afternoon. “

  She continued to stare at the table pretending to be absorbed in the contents of a file.

  “ Well, I’m always available for work. You being my boss should know that. But that’s all – nothing else. “

  “ Oh really, had you got some else in mind? “

  “ You know perfectly well what I’m referring to! “

  “ As you wish. See you here at 2. “

  “ Why, what’s so important, then? “

  “ The videos of both funerals. I need to examine them. “

  “ No problem. I can arrange that. Anything else? “

  “ We may have to interview some people – women in particular. Some things were brought to my attention after the funeral during the course of a conversation. “

  “ I’m surprised you had time to talk. “

  “ What’s that supposed to mean? “

  “ By my calculation you spent practically the whole of the afternoon following up on your investigation and in the one place. “

  “ Ah, so that’s it. “

  “ Yes, that’s it. “

  “ I was following a lead – instinct. “

  “ A lead? Ha, more like your prick or should I term it a divining rod! “

  “ Call it what you like. You certainly benefitted from it long enough. I never heard you complaining about it when you were in ecstasy. “

  Angela’s face went red. He saw her reach for the plastic beaker of water that stood on the table. He knew what she was contemplating.

  “ You throw that at me and I’ll have you locked up. Do you hear me? “

  Angela picked up the beaker and drank from it.

  “ I wouldn’t dream of wasting water and certainly not on you! “

  Devoy turned and walked out slamming the door behind him. A moment later the door opened and he came back in.

  “ Oh, sorry for the delay with your transfer. I finally established there’s a vacancy. “

  He gave her the name of the town and the area.

  “ She looked at him aghast. “

  “ I’m told a lot of the officers there are out on long- term sick leave or seeking transfers due to stress and violence. They’ll gladly swop their suburban war-zones for the peace and quiet of this town. I’ll send off you application tomorrow when I get time. I’m sure your temperament will be much appreciated. “

  He saw her burning with rage and quickly closed the door behind him. The beaker hit the door a moment later.

  Devoy ate a fish and chips for lunch and for once savoured being on his own.

  At two o’clock sharp he arrived back in his office. To his surprise Angela was already there waiting for him. She had set up the TV and was ready to roll. Devoy closed the blinds and she switched on the video player. He stole a glance at her but her eyes rested resolutely on the screen. As the images started to roll she commented.

  “ This is Horgan’s funeral. Tell me when you want me to freeze it. “

  They both watched the cortege enter the cemetery. Devoy immediately spotted Caroline amongst the trees with a camera around her neck. The hearse was followed by groups of men whom Devoy didn’t know.

  “ Hold it there, “ he asked. “ Who are those men right behind the hearse. “

  Angela peered at the TV.

  “ Those, oh they’re his fellow politicians from the town council. The fat one with the bald head is the mayor. He’s with one of the mainstream parties and has a majority. The others are smaller parties and independents. Horgan was an independent. “

  “ Any reason for that? “

  Angela shrugged her shoulders.

  “ Hard to say. The established parties looked on him as a bit of a blow-in and maverick. He didn’t come across as somebody who would toe the party line. He preferred to plough his own furrow, so to speak and he had the money to do it. So. “

  “ I see. Who’s that other lot there? They look like they were interrupted at golf judging by their outfits. “

  “ You’re bang on. They’re all from the golfing fraternity and they’ve probably lined up a game or two after the funeral. “

  “ So friends of Horgan, then? “

  Angela snorted.

  “ That lot including the councillors have no friends only permanent interests. “

  “ Interesting so, apart from yourself and Caroline, no other women. “

  “ So it would appear. “

  Angela let the tape roll on.

  “ I have
to ask you. Who exactly are we looking for? “

  “ A certain Raymond Horgan to be exact. “

  She looked at him sideways.

  “ He wouldn’t dare turn up here at his brother’s funeral. He’d be arrested right away. “

  “ Oh really and how would we do that? We didn’t even know of his existence until recently and besides we haven’t a notion what he looks like. “

  “ Damn, “ replied Angela.

  “ Yes damn. We’ve got to get a photo of him from records. Can you see to that this afternoon? “

  “ Of course. But even if we don’t know what he looks like surely our colleagues at the ports and airports would recognize him. “

  “ There are lots of way to sneak into a country, Angela. He could have gotten himself a false passport. Nothing is a problem when you have money. “

  “ So he could have come and gone under our noses? “

  “ It’s a possibility but if he didn’t do it at his brother’s funeral he may try it at another time. We have to be waiting for him the next time. “

  “ Right, nothing else to see there. Do you want to have a look at Caroline’s funeral? “

  “ Yes, that should prove interesting. Run it. “

  Devoy watched the cortege of Caroline’s funeral.

  “ Well, that makes a change, “ he commented.

  “ What? “ asked Angela.

  “ Apart from Cronin and that little upstart of a student everybody else is female. No other male mourners for Caroline. “

  “ So what are looking for here? “

  “ Women. Nothing but women. “

  “ And why is that? “

  Devoy related what Margo had told him.

  “ I see so it wasn’t a wasted effort entirely? “

  Devoy gave Angela a sharp look.

  “ So you want me to focus on women? Any particular ones? “

  “ I’ll tell you when I spot one. “

  Margo came into view behind the coffin as the pallbearers carried it to the grave.

  “ I suppose you want me to exclude her? “

  “ Of course I do. I can vouch for her. “

  “ As you wish. “

  The tape moved on.

  “ Who’s that in the designer gear? “

  “ That’s Mrs. Marshall - Beatrice to her friends. “

  “ Odd. I never imagined her like that. “

  “ And those other women behind her? “

  “ I can’t honestly say. I’d say they’re the friends and acquaintances of the Marshall family – horsey types. “

  Another figure came into sight.

  “ She looks like a nun of some sort. No, it’s the nursing sister from the nursing home. Strange way to dress. “

  They continued to view the video until the crowd drifted away.

  Devoy pointed at the TV.

  “ We need to talk to those women, Angela. I think some of them may hold the key to some of the mysteries we are encountering. They were close to Caroline. I want to find out how close. “

  Angela switched off the cassette player.

  “ I’ve an idea. “

  “ You have? What is it? “

  “ I can help you short-circuit what you’re looking for? “

  “ Oh, how do you propose to do that? “

  “ Well, in the first case what are you going to say to these women? What will be your excuse to question them before they clam up. You mentioned circles within circles. Don’t you think those circles are already drawing tighter since the death of Caroline? Battening down the hatches, so to speak. “

  “ I suppose you’re right. What do you suggest? “

  “ I may be wrong but I don’t think there’s any sense in questioning these women unless we have a handle on them – something to hold against them, to make them open up. “

  “ And you have something? “

  “ I’m not one hundred per cent sure but I think I may have found something. “

  “ Well tell me, Angela, for Christ’s sake. “

  “ Those videocassettes and DVD’s of Caroline. I had a quick scan through some of them picked out at random…”

  Angela’s face went red. She started to breathe deeply.

  “ She was filming herself with her partners – with women on her bed. “

  “ You’re kidding me? “

  “ I’m not kidding you – it…it was just awful. Sick. “

  “ Are you sure it was her? “

  “ Of course I’m sure. She was staring at the camera and gloating. Her face was so contorted it…it was like a mask. “

  “ But how do you know it was her if she was wearing a mask? “

  “ Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear. The others were wearing masks but not her. She seemed to be revelling in being recognized. “

  “ Which meant she felt secure. She was in control. “

  “ Did you recognize anybody – I mean any face that you know? “

  “ I told you Frank they were wearing masks. “

  “ But surely there were other parts of the body you were able to recognize? “

  “ Please Frank, I’m trying to help you here. I don’t spend my spare time sizing up women no more than you do with men. “

  “ Sorry. “

  “ So we’ll have to focus on something else to establish identities? “

  “ Well that’s what I was trying to establish and it came out wrong. If we could even identify the way they walk, their hips, their legs, anything like that just to get a handle on things. Even a close-up of their faces might give us a clue. “

  “ You’re right, Frank. Sorry I jumped on you. “

  “ So the reason they are wearing masks is that they know they’re being filmed – they are complicit. “

  “ I suppose that’s the big turn on for them. They can engage in lesbian sex without revealing their identities and view themselves afterwards. Another turn-on for them. Voyeurism. “

  Devoy grunted. He was lost in thought.

  “ You have to remember, Frank that these women to my mind are not your average run-of-the-mill types. You won’t find them living in a council house or your average three-bedroom semi. Nor will you find them working in factories. No, these are professional or upper-middle class types. Designer clothes, two holidays a year and not with the average wage-earners who clog up the airports every

  summer. Skiing too, at exclusive resorts. Private clubs, and private schools for the kids. They won’t risk this charmed life to be blackmailed for their sexual peccadilloes. They won’t take chances exposing their faces. “

  “ We just may have stumbled on Caroline’s motive with Horgan. Maybe he had a hold of some sort over her – maybe in another life, in another place, another country? “

  “ And they just happened to meet up again here accidentally? “

  “ So it would appear but appearances can be deceptive. “

  “ The town wasn’t big enough for both of them –especially if they had histories. “

  Devoy nodded.

  “ Blackmail! It would explain a lot of things: the harassment, sniping at one another, the fire, getting rid of evidence etc. Yes, it may be becoming clear now. We have to go through the videos and DVD’s. It’ll take us days but we’ve no choice.

  “ Something just occurred to me. Maybe all this lesbian action isn’t taking place solely in Caroline’s cottage. Maybe they rented out a cottage or summer house in the area and enjoyed themselves there? “

  “ And who rents out cottages and the like for the summer season? “

  “ We know the answer to that: the late Mr. Horgan. “

  “ Well, well, well. I think another visit to Horgan’s estate agency is in order. And we’ll need another search warrant for that. “

  “ So it’s Friday. Where do we go from here? “

  “ First let’s go through as many of these videocassettes and DVDs as possible and see what’s in store for us. Do you agree? “

 
; “ Okay, Angela. “

  “ Look, Frank, nothing personal. I just wouldn’t be able to look at that stuff with a man beside me – even you. I wouldn’t feel comfortable. I’d feel degraded as a woman. I’m sorry. “

  “ That’s okay, Angela. I understand. I’d probably feel the same way watching homosexuals. I’ll take some and you take some. We’ll aim for close-ups and when we get something worth examining we’ll put our heads together and take the next step. Okay? “

  “ Frank? “

  “ Yes? “

  “ I have to ask the question. “

  “ What question? “

  “ What are we really after here, Frank? Chasing down lesbians? “

  “ No, we’re not chasing down lesbians per se, Angela. We’re trying to solve criminal acts including murder and we are of the opinion that we’re onto something. The fact that we’ve come across a lesbian group is only incidental. However some of the members of that group may or may not be involved in criminal acts. Their sexual preferences are not our concern except where criminal acts are being committed. Remember that. “

  “ There’s something else that’s bothering me, Frank? “

  “ What? “

  “ I don’t want to look at this stuff here. I don’t want somebody stumbling in here and seeing me looking at this. People jump to conclusions even cops. Besides, I think I’d need a good stiff drink to stomach what I think I’m going to see. “

  “ You’ve got a player at home. Do it there. Take plenty of notes and try to catalogue what you see. In fact you’re right. The less people who see this stuff the better for everybody. I’ll explain everything to Sullivan and okay the overtime. “

  “ And you, Frank? “

  “ I’ll do the same at home. In fact I’ll get one of the uniforms to load the stuff up for you. And Angela, “

  “ Yes, Frank? “

  “ Stay in the house. Don’t answer the door for anyone. Lock up. I’ll get a patrol to pass by every now and then just to be on the safe side. “

  “ Do you think someone will want to retrieve this stuff? “

  “ I don’t want to frighten you, Angela but remember what happened to Horgan’s house. You keep your wits about you and make sure your gun is handy. If anything happens just get out. “

  “ I’m scared, Frank! “

  “ Better to be scared than to be sorry. Don’t forget I’m only a phone call away. Call me if you have to. Don’t worry about our tiff. There are other matters at work here. We are a team, remember. “